Sandpoint High School

Dear Bulldog Students, Families, and Friends,

I’d like to start by celebrating you—our amazing students, families, and friends—who have been so supportive in our efforts to put cell phones away during class time at Sandpoint High School. Your partnership in this has made a huge difference! By reducing distractions such as texting and social media, we’ve noticed more focused learning, stronger peer connections, and overall more engaged classrooms. It’s inspiring to see this positive energy in action, and we couldn’t have done it without your support. Thank you!

Next week marks the beginning of one of the most exciting times of the year: Homecoming Week! We’ll continue with our fun traditions such as themed dress-up days, voting for royalty, powderpuff football, the pep assembly, the big football game, and, of course, the dance. But more than just the activities, Homecoming is about bringing us together as a community. We want every student to feel included, connected, and proud to be part of the Sandpoint High School culture. It’s a week full of energy, and we’re thrilled to get as many students involved as possible!

I also want to share some exciting updates about what’s happening behind the scenes. Our dedicated department chairs meet twice a month to discuss ways to make SHS an even better place to learn and grow. This year, we’re focusing on improving our school schedule to better meet the needs of our students, staff, families, and school district. In a few weeks, we’ll be reaching out to you with a survey to gather your input. Your thoughts are so valuable to us as we plan for next school year and beyond.

I also invite you to join us for a Partnering with Parents Coffee Klatch on October 24th at 8:15am and 3:15pm in the school library. This will be a great opportunity to discuss the survey and connect with other parents and staff. Your voice is important to us, and we’re excited to hear from you! I’ll be sending out more information as we get closer to that date.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to talk more about your student’s journey, we’re here for you. We deeply value your partnership in their education, and we’re so grateful to have your support in making SHS a place where everyone can thrive.

Sincerely,
Principal Jacki Crossingham

School has settled into full swing and students are getting comfortable with the processes at SHS! What a great group of students we have this year!!! Just a heads up that parking tickets have started this week. So if your student does not have a pass they will need to jump on our waiting list and utilize the street parking as spots become available. Parking has always been tight at SHS, so please remind your drivers to follow all the rules as there are many students waiting who would love their pass!

Want to know a secret? Through a generous grant, SHS has installed VAPE DETECTORS in all of the bathrooms and locker rooms! This is really helping in the safety and overall environment in our halls during the passing period and instructional time! Just please know that they are active 24/7! So even during games or after school events …beware (parents too 🙂) that admin will get a notification!

Hello SHS Community,

Our athletics and activities programs are off to an incredible start, with success being celebrated both on and off the field! As we look ahead to district and state competitions, it's important to remember the role we all play in supporting our student-athletes. Providing them with proper nutrition and mental support is key to their performance and well-being. Our athletes give their all every day, and we greatly appreciate your continued encouragement and support.

Additionally, we want to remind everyone that athletic probation is in full swing. Our student-athletes are expected to maintain passing grades, especially during their season. We're committed to fostering a winning mentality both in the classroom and on the field. The discipline and focus required for academic success translates directly to success in competition. Thank you for helping us uphold these standards!

We’re also excited to announce that in just a few weeks, we’ll be hosting the 6A State Soccer Tournament, presented by the Idaho High School Athletics Association (IHSAA), from October 24th-26th. This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to see some of the top teams in the state compete for the championship. If you're interested in volunteering to help make this event a success, please reach out to me. Otherwise, we encourage everyone to come out and support these athletes in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent! This event will be a great moment for our community, and we can't wait to share it with you.

Thanks for all you do.

TJ Clary

Hi! My name is Amy Lightbody and I am really excited to be the new Attendance Officer at Sandpoint High School. I have lived in Sandpoint for over 10 years now and can't imagine a better place to call home. When I'm not tracking down a student's whereabouts, I enjoy reading, cooking, working out and spending time outside with my family and friends. Go Bulldogs!

Congratulations to Genevieve Hughes who has been named a semi-finalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program. Congratulations to Laurelyn Eastley who has been named a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Sandpoint High School is proud of these two wonderful seniors and congratulate them on this prestigious honor. Over 1.2 million juniors took the PSAT across the country last fall. About 34,000 students were recognized as Commended for their exceptional academic promise. Only 16,000 students are considered as semi-finalist and have an opportunity to continue in the competition to become a National Merit finalist. A national merit spokesperson commented, “these students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. Congratulations Lady Bulldogs - we are so proud of you both!!!!

Here are a few of the things that students and staff members are saying about him:

• He motivates me to work harder every day. He is such a good person and a good teacher as well.
• He shows that he really cares about his students and makes me feel empowered to do anything I work hard at.
• He's the best. Literally the most amazing teacher and is always super encouraging.

Zella Lopez is a Senior at Sandpoint High School. She is currently employed by the East Bonner County Library District as a Page and enjoys the work she does. In her free time she enjoys sewing, doing nails, painting and reading. She is an accomplished pianist, has several piano students, and plays the organ. Last year she had the opportunity of participating in the Distinguished Young Women program where she won 2nd runner-up, winning in the talent, scholastic, and be your best self categories. She hopes to attend either Utah State or BYU Provo for a year then go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, after her mission she plans to obtain her Masters in Library Science. She is a 4.0 student, 21st in her class.

Sandpoint High School senior, Torin Haesle, devotes his time during the school year to Cross Country/Track; playing alto-saxophone in the Jazz, Symphonic and Pep Bands; competing on the Academic Decathlon team; and as a member of the National Honor Society and Math Club. During the summer, Torin volunteers weekly at Bonner General Hospital, builds airplanes with the ACES Aerospace program, and has participated in the six-week Summer Science Program at Purdue and foreign exchange to Argentina.

Torin’s achievements include being captain of the Cross Country team, a 3x member of the Acadeca State Champions team, and receiving the Bonner General Hospital Excellence in Service award and scholarship. He is currently ranked first in his class of 227 students with a weighted GPA of 4.4. In the future, Torin hopes to attend Purdue University to study Biomedical Engineering on a Pre-med track. He is interested in becoming a pediatrician or research scientist with a focus on medical equity in rural areas.

McCoy Jensen was nominated by P.E. teacher, Karen Alsager, she said her reasons for nominating him include his maturity level, his moral compassion, and his character traits which are all to be admired. He encourages his classmates and helps create a positive atmosphere. Mrs. Alsager says she is fortunate to have him in her athletic PE class and wishes she had more students just like him. McCoy is also a part of the SHS swim team.

Other students nominated this month were Neveah Gallaway, Lane Harris, Ben Midstokke, Camryn Robertson, Kami Williams, Noah Johnston, Austin Whitmore, and Gavin Walters. We appreciate all these deserving students.

Coming from a creative family, senior Miles Wheatcroft has been a standout presence in the Sandpoint High School art studio over the past four years. Currently excelling in AP Art, Miles is dedicated to refining his AP portfolio, consistently producing exceptional work. His creativity extends far beyond the classroom. He has launched his own ski clothing brand, RTM (Return to Monkey) Outerwear, and competes regionally in IFSA freeride skiing competitions. In the summer, he channels his passion for the outdoors by building local mountain bike trails with Integrated Trail Labs.

Congratulations to Angie Dail, Sandpoint High School's College and Career Advisor for her recognition. Angie was awarded the Counselor of the Year for Region One from IACRAO at North Idaho College last Friday!! Angie is a true professional and always has our student's best interest as her focus, and has been able to accomplish many great things for our students, staff and parents.

All Things Senior will be held on Tuesday, October 8 in the SHS Commons. All grades are welcome. Representatives from colleges, military and workforce training will be present.

We will have breakout sessions on

• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Idaho Launch
• College Admissions.

• Monday - PJ Day.
• Tuesday- Throwback (a decade of your choosing).
• Wednesday- Class colors. Freshmen orange, Sophomores blue, Juniors purple, Seniors pink.
• Thursday- Rhyme with no Reason (hiker and biker, rapper and napper, teacher and preacher etc)
• Friday- RED and WHITE (BLACKOUT at the football game, all wear black).

• Wednesday 10/9
• 6 pm @ Memoria Field
• Fundraiser for ALL classes
• Century club cards and ASB stickers will not be valid for this event.
• Adults and students 9-12th grade $7, K-8th grade $5 and senior citizens free.
• Concessions will be available.

• Friday 10/11
• Game starts at 7 pm
• Wear black, blackout for the game!
• Century Club cars and ASB cards free, adults and students grades 9-12 without ASB card $7, students K-8 $5. Senior citizens free.

• Saturday 10/12
• Tickets must be pre-purchased at SHS, no tickets at the door.
• Students must have their student ID with them.
• Guest forms must be completed and turned in no later than Wednesday, October 9th. Please turn into the front office. No one over 21 will be allowed.
• Dance is at The Hive from 7-10 pm.

Athletic director, TJ Clary, selected Samantha Leaverton as the September Coca Cola athlete of the month. Mr. Clary chose her for her strengths on and off the field. Sam's soccer coach, Alan Brinkmeier had this to say about her, "Sam has been a big part of our success this year. She has scored a couple goals from 20 yards out that not many can hit. She has been a starter since day one as a freshman which only a few have done. Sam supports and cheers on her team even when she was sidelined with a little injury. Sam works hard in school and that will pay off as she continues, what I can only imagine, will be a very long and successful soccer career".

"As we begin the new school year, please keep in mind a few important safety and logistical concerns. Allowing strangers to access our building for deliveries raises security risks, and we also take on the responsibility for any potential allergic reactions or food-borne illnesses from outside meals. Additionally, accepting and distributing deliveries adds to the staff's workload, and late deliveries can disrupt classes by forcing students to eat lunch during lessons. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and smooth environment for everyone."